For more than 200 years, people have journeyed here for inspiration, enlightenment and its natural wonders

The first English settlers of the early 1700s arrived in search of religious freedom. The local population grew larger with the arrival of German emigrants traveling south from Pennsylvania.

Officially founded in 1785, Emmitsburg was considered one of the largest wheat producers in the nation from 1800-1850s.

On June 15, 1863, nearly a quarter of the town, burned to the ground, ignited by a stable fire. Soon after, residents experienced the shelling of nearby Battle of Gettysburg.

In 1808, Mount St. Mary’s College (MSM) was established, offering high school and college courses to local boys and potential priests. Now a coed university, MSM provides an extensive array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

In 1809, Elizabeth Ann Seton arrived from Baltimore and established the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. A school for girls would soon open that would grow to become St. Joseph College, a nationally-known women’s college that operated until 1973.

The campus is now owned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and re-established as the National Emergency Training Center, which is home to the Emergency Management Institute, National Fire Academy, and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

With an eye to the future, Emmitsburg became the first government entity in central and western Maryland to operate on 94% renewable solar energy.

Learn more about Emmitsburg’s storied history by taking the Emmitsburg Walking Tour, which features 15 interpretive exhibits.